Tipped lacing.



e of a lacing fabric,

HOWARD lllIuFRY, 0F OMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR'TO 'IIIE NARROW FABRIC COMPANY, OF SYLVANIA.

means.

Specification of Letters Patent.

WYOMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF JPENN- IIPPED LACING.

Patented July it, iait.

. Application filed October 9, 1913. Serial No. 794,185.

My invention relates to lacings for shoes, and conslsts in an 1111- corsets, and like uses, proved tip construction therefor as hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, the novel features of which are specifically pointed out in the claim.

Figure 1 shows a tip-forming end portion with a plain piece of re inforcing-and-binding fabric placed upon it preliminary to forming the tip. Fig. 2 shows the tip formed therefrom. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sections on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 and 44 of Fig. 2 respectively. Fig. 5 indicates a construction in whichthe separate fabric embodied in the compacted tip ispro-jected beyond the latter to form a terminal tassel. I

The main purpose of my invention is to provide a properly compacted and stiffened tip of simple and economical construction and neat appearance; and further to provide a'tip which will show in cross-section .contrastingly-colored fabrics employed in its construction so as to produce a pleasing effect and serve as a means of identification.

In Fig. 1, 2 represents a tip-forming end portion of a lacing fabric, of either the flat or tubular form ordinarily employed. This is commonly compacted and bound by means of a metallic sheath so as toform the tip, but the lacing material itself is sometimes stiffened and bound into a compacted end by means of a cementitious material so as to form an unsheathed fabric tip.

My invention relates more particularly to this latter type of tip though providing for overcoming disadvantages and limitations of both. Itconsists essential-l in incorporating with the compacted tiporming portion of the lacing fabric, a separate reinforcing-and-binding fabric. As shown 1 n cross-sectional view in Fig. 2 this latter 1s a composite fabric consisting preferably of a flat-woven material such as linen or muslin, indicated at 3, having one or preferably both faces thereof coated wl h an adherent plastic material such as celluloid, indicated at 4, 4; said coating material being normally hard but adapted to be softened and made to serve as a cementing medium for the combined lacing and reinforcing fabrics, in forming the finished tips; and the color of said coating material 4 being preferably different from that of the material 3, and ordinarily corresponding with the color of the lacing fabric 2 with which it is incorpo rated; as is hereinafter fully described.

. A strip of this composite reinforcing-andbinding fabric 34, is placed upon the tipforming portion 2 of the lacing fabric, as

indicated, and the two fabrics are then jointly-folded or rolled up to rounded form, with the surface tacting with the coated surfaces of the enwrapped reinforcing fabric; the coating material 4, 4 being first softened by means of a suitable applied solvent, and the two interwrapped fabrics being then subjected to the heating and compressing action of suitable forming dies whereby the softened and heated coating material 4, 4 of 'the reinforcing fabric is forced into the pores of the contacting lacing fabric so as to serve as a cementing medium which firmly binds the compacted fabrics in the reduced rounded form produced by the pressure of the dies. The cooling of the impregnating cementitious material 4, 4 produces a firm yet elastic structure which may be subjected to unusual strains without danger of breakage or distortion, thereby insuring the maintenance of the tip during the life of the lacing body and avoiding a serious cause of dissatisfaction.

The reinforcing-and-binding fabric employed, is conveniently made up in sheets or strips from which the required size stri s or blanks may be out to combine with t e lacing fabric in forming the tips; the coating or coatings of celluloid, pyralin or like cementitious plastic material, which form normally hard elastic facings, being softened. by the solvent employed so as to flow freely and permeate the lacing fabric when compressed by the heated dies, thereby leaving the reinforcing fabric as a thin layer of separate material lying between the folds or bendsof the lacing fabric and firmly cemented thereto. By makin this enwrapped reinforcing fabric of a di erent color from the of the lacing fabric con lacing fabric as stated, it forms a figure of contrasting color in the exposed end view or any cross-section of the tip, as indicated in Fig. 4, thereby producing a pleasing effect and also serving to clearly reveal the reinforced structure. As indicated in Fig. 5' the inwrapped composite reinforcing-and-binding fabric 34.itself, or separate material 3- incorporated in the tip if preferred, is

extended beyond the end of the lacing fabric and is combed out to form an ornamental projecting tassel of either the same or different material and coloring from the lacing fabric; the plastic-coated reinforcing fabric element, as described, constituting 1n each case the essential feature of the improved construction.

What I claim is A fabric lacing formed with a cementbound tip having an end portion of a. separate tassel-forming material embodied therein, the other portion of the latter forming a projecting terminal tassel.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HOWARD M. FRY. Witnesses:

J. E. KIssINoER; R. M. NUNEMACHER. 

